be quiet! Pure Power 9 CM 700 Watt PSU Review - Final Words & Conclusion

Final Words & Conclusion

The Pure Power power supply series has reached iteration 9, again an incremental update that places focus on improved efficiency, aesthetics and offering an PSU that remains silent. We have to say that with the 700W model we tested, all bases have been covered. It is efficient enough, looks great in the black design, is totally silent and modular with nice all black cables that, for the storage and GFX, are flat as well. Lovely! These PSUs are designed for the the PC DIY builders who want that little extra over a regular power supply, the guys with a Z170 based system and say a fairly high-end processor combined with a nice high-end to enthusiast class dedicated graphics card. The efficiency of series 9 is pretty nice as well, and next to the modular design this without doubt is a very aesthetically pleasing PSU series. The trend in hardware lately is to be more power efficient and Listan / Be Quiet! (no not you) is moving onwards into a completely saturated power supply channel. To make the difference, you need to be different and the PP9 series certainly feels like it is just that.

Element 47

As with any power supply, half the maximum load rating is the point of equilibrium, that's where it'll be the most efficient and in this case that is 89% efficiency (at 230 Volts). As such, the 350 Watt range is actually a sweet-spot as an average gaming PC with one dedicated graphics card would consume roughly that during a hefty gaming session. While zoning in on that 50% range we can confirm that the power efficiency is most definitely really good as it performed smack down where it needs to be with other tested models, even closing in on Gold efficiency from what we can measure.

At a price of, give or take, 109 EURO the product feels a bit on the pricy side, but treet prices always are a bit lower. You will receive 3 years warranty. As far as the ODM goes, Listan / Be Quiet! designs these power supplies themselves and then outsources production, we think this unit is FSP in origin.

Stability

Stability wise we have very little to complain about as at half load, say 350~400 watts, voltages remained drop dead in sync. But we'll trust that some other reviews will show some ripple tests yet have no doubt the product will come out totally clean. Kick-ass is obviously the option for four rails or in OC mode, the massive single +12V rail, it has just so much power to handle multiple heavy duty graphics cards. 

Aesthetics

The Pure Power 9 series looks great with its dark accents and all black cabling. The PSU sticks to a proper ATX length at 16 cm too. The cables are delivered in a dark black coating, and flat for storage and graphics cards. Good to see is that the plastic connectors themselves are all black as well. Modular designs are the way to go. You use what you need in terms of wiring, keeping the innards clean and tidy, plain and simple. And overall it is a great looking PSU. 
 

Final words

There's very little wrong with the Pure Power 9 series that we can see or measure. In fact, this is an above normal unit that ticks all the right boxes. The design is good, the stability was great, the efficiency levels measured are above what we expected and it is just an incredibly silent product. In terms of quality we feel the Pure Power 9 series is true to the be quiet! legacy, but only time and end-user experiences will tell what life-span will be like. As far as feature levels go, the Pure Power 9 series offers everything you can and may expect, and then a little more in terms of low noise levels, efficiency and looks. The only tiny little thing I honestly can think of is maybe a little more length for the ATX power/CPU cables? It's nitpicking though. The price is a notch higher then I had hoped for though, however combined with a terrific track-record for be quiet! we can wholeheartedly recommend the be quiet! Pure Power 9 series (yes, for you).

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